I don't think that it's the player seeing the event; it's more that when the player walks there, that event is happening over there at that time. He's just showing you the event, not saying that the player character itself is seeing the event.

So it's dramatic irony, if I remember correctly?
I want to believe that, but I really can't since that '?' appears above the players head. Most people, as far as I know, would give in to their curiosity and try to find out what is happening.